After discussion of a paper presented by Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler (see below) the European Commission today issued a statement, which announces guidelines on this issue to be presented soon. It excludes the possibility that member states could establish GMO free zones, insists that co-existence measures would only deal with the economic consequences of potential contamination of non-GMO seeds with GMOs and questions whether additional liability measures are needed. Reactions of environmental and agricultural organisations were critical about this approach.</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/cgi/rapcgi.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/314-0- RAPID&lg=EN&display=">Commission press release on co-existence</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/Communication_Fischler_02_2003.pdf">Fischlers Communication on co-existence (pdf)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/Communication_Fischler_02_2003.rtf">Fischlers Communication on co-existence (rtf)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/reuters_05_03_03.pdf">Wires on coexistence</a></p><p><a href="http://ens-news.com/ens/mar2003/2003-03-07-04.asp">Environmental News Service</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/copa_pe_05_03_03.pdf">Press Release of Copa Cogeca</a>